Simple, versatile, and robust fabrication of multifunctional microfluidics is becoming increasingly crucial for mimicking tissue interfaces and biological barriers. Our current research efforts aim at the integration of optical and electrical sensing systems into multi-layered microdevices to monitor and simulate the absorption and metabolism of drugs, nanomaterials, and pollutants across tissue barriers of the gut or the lung. This project is conducted in cooperation with Graz University of Technology.

Next-generation mechanobiology-on-a-chip systems are focusing on (a) the control over spatiotemporal organization of in vivo-like tissue architectures, (b) the ability to precisely control the amount, duration, and intensity of the biomechanical stimuli, and (c) the capability of monitoring in real-time the effects of applied mechanical forces on cell, tissue and organ functions. Our current system aims to automate the wound defect and cell depletion process completely by applying a defined pressure, stretch/strain, and compression in a microfluidic device, whereas conventional methods require unreproducible user manipulation. This project is conducted in cooperation with Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology.

Current pharmaceutical compound screening processes lack uniform standards to produce and test 3D cell culture models (spheroids or patient-derived organoids), leading to incomparable results between laboratories and research facilities. In this project, a microfluidic platform is established that accommodates microtissues of defined dimensions and biological sources on a single device closing an important technological gap by enabling rapid and easy operation and high-content screening of anti-cancer drugs, toxins, or phytogenic compounds in a standardized and reproducible manner. This project is conducted in cooperation with Harvard Medical School, Medical University of Graz, and the Josef-Ressel-Center for Phytogenic Ingredients Research.